While this isn't a new debate, it's still an issue that retailers care about. Texas small business owners are knocking on doors of Congressional offices today to make their case for passage of the Marketplace Fairness Act.

This proposed legislation has been around a few years and while it’s passed the Senate, it's never passed the House. Supporters say the act will level the playing field by requiring all online retailers to collect sales taxes. Opponents say it’s just another tax. (Amazon.com had been an opponent, but now supports the bill.)

Jay Finegold said he decided to step up and take his turn to lobby because his family business is feeling the impact. More people are shopping online, so the tax disadvantage is no longer just more competition to store owners like him, he said.

Since 1995, Finegold and his wife Janet have owned and operated KidBiz/TheBiz at the Plaza at Preston Center.

He’s going to tell U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, whose district includes the shopping center, that his 3,784-square foot apparel and accessories store pays rent, local taxes, collects sales taxes, employs 14 people and offers shoppers a store that’s not a cookie-cutter version of one in the next shopping center.

“It really affects the overall economy when local retailers don’t do well,” he said. “I hire high school and college students and what I teach them will help them in their careers. We sell to our friends and neighbors and our staff is like our family.”

Some shoppers are so embolden by the idea of tax avoidance that they will actually come in and try something on and then say they’re going to check to see if they can find it cheaper online, he said.

Finegold recently got a call asking for the brand name of a handbag that was in his window and the shopper said, "I'm going to try to find it online, thank you."

During the back-to-school, tax-free shopping weekend, shoppers flock to stores for the 8.25 percent tax, Finegold said. “I can offer a 20 percent off sale and barely get a response.”